MY PHILOSOPHY
Welcome to Southern Summits Trail Coach, where I empower runners to achieve their goals through a unique blend of science and holistic support. My coaching philosophy centres on personalised, individualised training plans tailored to your specific needs and capabilities, moving away from one-size-fits-all approaches.
I understand that the journey of running encompasses not only physical endurance but also the often overlooked mental and emotional aspects of training and competition. By focusing on sustainability and consistency, I guide everyday athletes to tap into their full potential and transform challenges into triumphs. Join me in redefining what’s possible, one step at a time!
ABOUT YOUR COACH
Hello! I’m Colleen; a trail and endurance running coach, mountain guide, and lifelong lover of the outdoors with a passion for helping athletes discover what they’re truly capable of.
With years of experience on the trails, I’ve completed multiple ultra-distance races both locally and internationally, including the gruelling 200-mile Tor des Geants race through the Italian Alps, the 100-mile UTMB Finals race, as well as several other ultra distance events across South Africa and abroad. These experiences have shaped not only my understanding of endurance but also the mindset, adaptability, and resilience it takes to succeed at any distance.
As a UESCA Certified Ultrarunning Coach, Endurance Sports Nutrition Coach, and registered Mountain Guide, I bring a scientific yet highly personalised approach to every athlete I work with. My coaching philosophy blends data driven insight with real world mountain experience, creating training programs that are as adaptable and unique as the runners themselves.
I’m fascinated by the process of athletic preparation, from building fitness and resilience to mastering the mindset, nutrition, and strategy that bring performance together on race day. Whether an athlete is training for their first 10 km or tackling a multi-day ultra, that same curiosity drives me to keep learning, researching, and evolving so I can offer the most up to date, evidence based coaching possible.
Whether your goal is to complete your first trail race, chase a personal best, or take on a major endurance challenge, I’m here to guide you every step of the way — with structure, support, and a deep respect for the process.
Let’s work together to unlock your potential and redefine what’s possible.
LADIES TRAIL RUNNING GROUP
Southern Summits Ladies Trail Running Group is a welcoming, ladies only community designed to help women explore the trails with confidence, connection, and support. Led by Colleen Browne, a registered mountain guide and trail & ultra running coach, our social trail runs are suitable for women who can comfortably run 6km or more on the road. We move together, regroup regularly, walk the climbs, and enjoy the flats and descents as a team. Run details, routes, and GPX files are shared via our WhatsApp group, creating a safe and supportive space to learn, adventure, and connect with like-minded women.
If you’ve been wanting to hit the trails but prefer not to go alone, Southern Summits is your place to find your stride and become part of the community.
“An amazing Coach. From my own experience, she works with each athlete at a personal level, where she caters for each Athletes personal goals and provides the best coaching suitable to each athletes needs. She is easy to work with, knowledgable and a lot more. I achieved my goal of improving my 60km MUT race by 4 hours, and she is continuing to help me prepare for my first 100 Miler one day. And then possibly compete at that level too.” – Alexander Spratt